A table in SQL is a physical storage structure that contains data in rows and columns, whereas a view is a virtual table created from a SQL query. Tables store data directly in the database, while views derive data dynamically based on the query used to define them.
Tables can be modified (insert, update, delete), but views may have limitations depending on their complexity, such as using joins or aggregate functions. Views are primarily used to simplify complex queries, enhance security by restricting access to specific data, and provide abstraction, while tables are the fundamental building blocks for storing data.